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Challenges are mounting against PM Abadi’s government and the ISF in Baghdad. Following the kidnapping of the 18 Turkish workers last week, likely by Iranian-backed Shi'a militias, this week witnessed the kidnapping of a former Sunni advisor from Anbar.
The trajectory of the Syrian Civil War may fundamentally shift within the 90 day timeframe. Russia escalated its military assistance on behalf of the Syrian regime in early September 2015, deploying armored vehicles and hundreds of personnel to the Syrian Coast in preparation for the establishment of at least one forward air operations base.
ISW President Dr. Kimberly Kagan testified to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday September 16, 2015. The committee discussed the United States role in the Middle East focusing on Iraq, Syria, and the fight against ISIS.
Satellite imagery provided by AllSourceAnalysis confirms the recent arrival of Russian main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, and other military equipment at an airbase in Syria’s coastal Latakia province, indicating that Russia has deployed troops inside Syria. Concurrent military exercises inside Russia suggest that Russia may intend to deploy additional forces, possibly further inside Syria.
ISIS Grand Strategic Objectives include: rule all Muslims under an Islamic Caliphate; and provoke and win an apocalyptic war with the West.
ISIS Grand Strategic Objectives include: rule all Muslims under an Islamic Caliphate; and provoke and win an apocalyptic war with the West.
ISIS Grand Strategic Objectives include: rule all Muslims under an Islamic Caliphate; and provoke and win an apocalyptic war with the West.
ISW’s updated ISIS sanctuary map includes a new attack zone in Deraa, southwestern Syria and an expanded sanctuary zone in Idlib, northwestern Syria. ISIS claimed an attack against the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) in Deraa on August 18, and also may be responsible for an ongoing assassination campaign against JN in Idlib.
ISW’s updated ISIS sanctuary map includes a new attack zone in Deraa, southwestern Syria and an expanded sanctuary zone in Idlib, northwestern Syria. ISIS claimed an attack against the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) in Deraa on August 18, and also may be responsible for an ongoing assassination campaign against JN in Idlib.
Popular demonstrations continued across southern Iraq while Iranian proxy groups escalated against the Iraqi government by denouncing protests and releasing an anonymous video of the Turkish hostages kidnapped in Baghdad, demanding adjustments to Turkey’s policies in the region.